Round Top, Texas- Our First Visit & What I Learned

You wont want to miss out on all the fun of Round Top!  Read all about our first visit!

A couple of weeks ago we visited the Round Top Antiques Fair for the first time.  It’s almost unbelievable that we’ve never been before, especially with it being only a couple of hours away from our home town.  Luckily that meant that we completed our visit in one day, with little stress, since we just wanted to get a feel for what the fair had to offer.  The drive out to Round Top is also beautiful this time of year, with all of the wildflowers blooming.  I wish I had taken pictures of that to share here with y’all!

As you can see, our visit didn’t disappoint.  We saw so much antique/junk goodness!  Sadly I again didn’t manage to get a picture of the rows and rows of tents that lined the street, but it was sort of magical for a person like me who loves to hunt.  Y’all, there’s so much to go through that after a four hour day we hadn’t even scratched the surface!

The area that we walked was full of wonderful pieces though.  I am surprised that I didn’t go nuts and buy up everything I could, and as someone that loves design of all styles, I was hurting due to the fact that I didn’t have a place for all of these beauties in my life right now.  I came up with so many designs in my head on how to use everything I saw, so at least I got in a good brain exercise.  Haha!

What I did do though, is buy a few pieces that I knew I could use either right away or in the near future.  I was impressed that not all of the vendors charged an arm and a leg for some of the more popular items in decor right now, like these vintage pillow covers.  I can’t believe I only walked away with one from this gorgeous grouping, but now I have something on my list for next time!

I keep kicking myself, because I didn’t snatch up even one of these gorgeous wooden chairs!  I mean, what in the world, Iris?!?!??!!  A tear just fell from my face thinking about it again.

Overall, I found that a lot of the vendors fit into one of two categories.  Either they were extremely nice and gracious that you were interested in their products, like the man running the Boga Oriental Rugs tent who even brought the price down on our purchase to hand a five dollar bill to our son.  So nice and unexpected!  That or they were completely uninterested in the fact that you were even in their tent at all, and if you did manage to get their attention, well you had better have a design business, or store that you can sell to them so they give you the time of day.

I wont mention any vendors in particular that I had a negative experience with, especially since it was my first time attending.  My heart hopes that maybe I got the wrong impression of some of them, since maybe they were tired, as it was two days before they were going to move on to the next spot.  Or maybe I was shopping where all of the store owners and designers frequent, and that’s what they expect?  Eh, I honestly don’t know, but I respond to kind people a lot better than those that are rude and/or indifferent.  So heads up, don’t be surprised if you aren’t warmly welcomed from time to time.  The good thing is that the vendors that do appreciate your potential purchase are truly some of the nicest people, and will willingly partake in good conversation with you.  That made the trip so much more enjoyable for me, because if you know me at all by now, you know I love to talk.  Haha!

We already have plans to return in the fall, when hopefully the weather is even more comfortable, and now that we know what to expect we can plan out or visit in advance!  I’m so excited!

Although I could talk about our visit all day, the most helpful thing I can talk about here with y’all is how to prepare for your visit.  Here are just a few things that come to mind.  I’ll probably have more to share after our next visit in the fall, so check back for that.

• Be sure to check the weather before you head to the fairgrounds, because Texas weather is fickle and can turn from cool to scorching hot in a matter of hours, or into a massive storm that seems to come out of nowhere.
• Wear comfortable shoes!  You’ll be walking over all kinds of terrain, so be prepared.
• Have an idea of what you are looking for.  There are so many things to buy and lug around with you all day that you need to be prepared to carry those items comfortably.  Most of the vendors don’t offer bags, so bring some of your own.  I suggest a large shoulder bag for the lighter but larger items, and if you can manage it, a cart to carry around the heavier and larger items too.
• Know the value of what you are buying.  Bargain with the vendors, but be respectful while you do it.  You’d be surprised at how easily you can skim a bit off the top of your purchase.

If you’re wondering I did end up buying on my first trip, I’m sharing it all below.  At one point I found my way into a tent where I immediately started to snatch up item after item before they were taken by someone else.  Turns out this company sells wholesale to shops, and I recognized a lot of pieces that I’ve seen on some of my favorites.  I only got the necessities, but it did get me to thinking about the fact that one day I’d love to run my own little decor shop.  Dream number four added to the list!

SHOP MY FINDS! (Affiliate links included.)

So you see, you can find just about anything at Round Top!  I hope you enjoy your visit!

-Iris